Airplane



March 3%,1943. I R; w P L E 2,314,949

AIRPLANE Filed July 12, 1940 a Sheets-Shget 1 jZUQIZZO I' March 30, 3- R. w. PALMER 2,314, AIRPLANE Filed July 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet Z March 30, 194-3. R. w. PALMER 2,314,949

AIRPLANE Filed July 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 March so, 1943. A M 2,314,949

AIRPLANE e Sheets-Shee't 4 Filed July 12, 1940 Java/2757 March 30, 1943. I R w PALMER 2,314,949

AIRPLANE Filed July 12, 1940 Q 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lliii- 36 MI] March 30, 1943. R w PALMER AIRPLQNE Filed July 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 30, 1943 AIRPLANE Richard W. Palmelg whittier, ,CaliL, assignor to Vultee Aircraft, Inc., Downey, Calil'., a corporation of Delaware Application July 12, 1940, Serial No. 345,107 Claims. (01. 244419 The present invention relates generally to airplanes. 4 to that type of airplane which is primarily designed for use in observation or photographic work and comprises a fuselage together with wings, empennage, propelling mechanism and landing gear. 1

One object of the invention is to provide'an More particularly the invention relates airplane of this type which is generally an improvement upon and has certain inherent advantages over previously designed observation airplanes and is characterized by the fact that the.

fuselage is so designed and constructed that the pilot and observer have unobstructed vision through substantially all parts or portions of it.

lipsoidal in contour or shape and embodies at' the rear end thereof a narrow tailboom for supporting the empennage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an airplane of the last mentioned character or type in which the fuselage is substantially elliptical in cross section and is of greatest thickness from top to bottom, and the empennage supporting tailboom is fixed to the rear end of the fuselage ata point above the longitudinal center lineof the fuselage with the result that the observer in the rear of the fuselage is able to see clearly under the empennageand may look rearwards, as well as rearwards and downwards without any appreciable obstruction. Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present airplanewill be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description. p Theinvention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set' forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numeralsof reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view showing an observation airplane embodying the invention with the landing gear thereof in its extended or operative position and illustrating the shape and design of the fuselage and empennage supporting tailboom;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the airplane;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the fuselage illustrating in detail the design and construction of the shell;

Figure 4 is a side view of the tailboom, parts being broken away and'other parts being shown in section .in order to illustrate the manner in which the front end of the tailboom is connected to the rear end of the substantially ellipsoidal fuselage;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the front end of the fuselage, the geodetic or latticed framework and the flexible transparent plates constituting the shell being omitted;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of the front end of the fuselage;

Figure '7 is a, fragmentary perspective of part of the geodetic or latticed framework;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view of part of the fuselage shell, parts of the plate retaining strips being broken away for purposes of illus tration; l

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail or side view of the portion of the fuselage shell that is adjacent one of theupperlOngrons arm?" I V fuselage; I Figure 10 is a section taken on the line ill-Ill of Figure 9 and showing in detail the manner in which the margins of the transparent plates are "so connected to the -cross members of the geodetic or latticed framework that the plates are free 'to expand or contract without buckling or causing distortion of the framework;

Figure 11 is a. section on the line I'l-ll of Figuremand Figure 12 is a perspective of one of the trans- I parent plates of the fuselage shell.

' trol mechanism and operating equipment'and'.

The airplane which is shown in the vdrawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is primarily designed for observation or photographic work and as its main or principal parts comprises a fuselage H, a pair of wings", an empennage. It, a propeller ll and a retractable tricycle landing gear IS.

The fuselage H serves tohouse the pilot and observer of the airplane. It houses the usual concarries at the front end thereofan internal combustion engine (not shown) for driving the propeller ll. As illustrated, the airplane is of the :high wing monoplane type.' The fuselage II is substantially ellipsoidal in contour (see Figures 1 and 2) and as far as cross section is concerned it corresponds to an ellipse with a vertical major axis. It carries the wings |2 at the sides thereof and comprises a pair of horizontally extending laterally spaced full length upper longrons IS, a pair of downwardly bowed laterally spaced full length lower longrons 1, a front bulkhead l3, a pair 'of laterally spaced front ribs i9,- a pair of laterally spaced intermediate ribs 20, a pair of laterally spaced rear ribs 2|, a rear end ring 22, a top enclosure 23 and in addition a shell consisting of a geodetic or latticed framework 24 and plates 25. The bulkhead I3 is located-at, and extends across, the front end of the fuselage and serves as a firewall between the propeller driving engine and the front portion of the fuselage interior. It extends transversely of the fuselage and is positioned directly behind the engine. The engine is suitably secured to the bulkhead I8 and is surrounded by a ring-shaped housing 25. The upper longrons i6 lead or extend rearwards from the upper side portions of the bulkhead l8 and support the enclosure 23. They overlie the lower longrons l1 and are channel shaped in cross section. As shown -in Figure 5, the upper longrons l6 comprise crosswebs 21, side legs 28 and out-turned flanges 29 and are arranged so that the side legs 28 projector face outwards, i. e., in the direction of thefuselage exterior. The out-turned flanges 29 are formed integrally with, and project at right angles to,- the outer margins of the side legs 28, as shown in Figure 5. The front, intermediate and rear ribs of the fuselage extend substantially vertically and are located in the central portion of the fuselage, as shown in Figure .3. They are spaced apart and have the upper ends thereof fixedly secured-to the upper longrons IS.- The lowr ends of the ribs are fixedly connected in any suitable manner to the central portions of the lower longrons |1. As shown in Figure 3, the ribs are of channel formation and are shaped and designed like the upper longrons IS. The lower longrons project or extend rearwards from and serves as a closure for the sides and bottom of the fuselage. It gives the sides and bottom of the fuselage the desired shape and affords the pilot and observer substantially complete of unobstructed vision through the sides, bottom and rear of the fuselage. The framework 24 is formed of a plurality of serially arranged and connected metallic stampings and comprises a set of laterally spaced substantially parallel members which extend diagonally in one direction and a second set or group of laterally spaced substantially parallel members which extend diagonally in the opposite direction. The members of one set extend at substantially right angles to the other set or group and define with the last mentioned members substantially square open- As shown in Figure 8, the

ings or spaces 35. stampings of which the framework 24 of the shell is formed are of one-piece design and include cross-shaped parts 38 at the points where" the diagonally extending members of one set or group intersect and join the members of the 1 tumed flanges 38. The side legs 38 of.the di-' agonally extending frame work members extend inwardly from the side margins of the crosswebs 31 and are joined to, and formed integrally with, the side margins of the webs. The flanges 33 are joined to and formed integrally with. the inner margins of the side legs 33 and are positioned in parallel relation ,with the crosswebs 31. The stampings of which the framework is formed are curved or of concavo-convex character, as shown in the drawings. Preferably the stampings have butt joints between them and are suitably maintained in rigid or serially connected relation. The lower longrons H of the fuselage are disposed inwardly of the framework 24 and are fixedly secured to the latter by riveting or otherwise the lower side portions of the bulkhead l8 and are the same in cross section as the upper longrons and the ribs |9,20 and 2|. They are channel shaped and comprise crosswebs 30, and

outwardly extending side legs 3|, and in addition out-turned flanges 32 along the outer margins of the side legs 3|. The rear ends of th lower longrons are upwardly and rearwardly curved in 'a comparatively .sharp manner. The rear end ring 22 defines the rear end of the fuselage and is fixedly secured to the rear ends of the upper and lower longrons l6 and I1. It is located at an appreciable distance above the lon- 34. The latter-are formed of fPlexiglass" or other like flexible transparent material and permit the pilot; and observer of the atrplane to see above .the fuselagewithout any appreciable obstruction. Certain 'of the panels 34 are in the'form of movably mounted hatches in order that the pilot and observer may opn the top of the. fuselage when desired. The shell consisting of the framework 24 and the plates 25, extends around securing the out-turned flanges 32 thereof to the out-turned flanges 39 at' the points where such flanges cross or lap one another. The plates 23 .of the fuselage shell are square and serve to cover or close the spaces 35 which are defined by thethrough the spaces 35. The margins of the plates 3 25 are arranged in lapped relation with the outer opposed edges of the adjacent plates.

outer faces of the crosswebs 31 and serve as resilient backings'for the plates. The plates are secured in place by means of metallic attaching strips 4| and bolts 42. The attaching strips have beveled side margins and overlie the top faces of the marginal portions of the plates, as shown in Figure 9. Thebolts 42 extend through aligned holes in the gasket strips 40 and the crosswebs 31 and have nuts 43 at their inner ends. Bushings 44 surround the shanks of the bolts"42 and serve so to space the heads of the bolts from the cross connected by an upwardly bowed crosspiece 51 of truss formation. This crosspiece extends through the central portion of thetop enclosure 23. The inner ends'of the secondary beams of and contraction of the transparent plates. The

nuts 43-on'the inner ends of the shanks of the bolts bear against the inner faces of the crosswebs 31. The attaching strips 4| together with tions of the framework are triangular and have the upper margins thereof secured against the 'lowermost flanges 29 of the upper longrons I 6 by attaching strips 45 and bolts 46, as shown in Figure 10. The front end of the framework 26 is suitably secured to the side and lower portions of the bulkhead l8 and the rear 'end of the framework is secured to the rear end ring22 of the fuselage. The space between the ribs 19 and 20 at one side of the fuselage serves as, or constitutes, a. doorway 41. This doorway is normally closed by a door 48 which is hinged at the upper portion thereof and consists of a geodetic or latticed type framework 49 and Plexiglass plates 50. The framework 49 corresponds to the framework 24 and the plates 50 are like the plates 25 and are secured in place in the same manner as said plates 25. By having the door 48 in the form of a geodetic or latticed framework 49 and flexible transparent plates 50 the door does not prevent the pilot or observer from seeing through the doorway 41. An opening is formed in the lower rear portion of the fuselage. This opening is adapted to accommodate a machine gun or camera and is defined by a stamped metal frame 52. The latter fits within and is secured to the lower rear portion of the framework 24 of the fuselage shell and has a door 53 associated with it. The door serves normally to close the opening 5! and consists of a frame 54 and a panel 55 of Plexiglass or other The wings'lz are substantially coplanar and project outwards from the sides of the transparent top closure 23 of the fuselage. They are of standard or conventionaldesign and embody forwardly disposed main beams (not shown) and rearwardly disposed secondary beams' (also not shown). The inner portions of thetwo wings are'connected to the upper ends of the ribs [9, 20 and 2| by means of bracket devices 55. The

' inner ends of the main beams of the wings are 7 the wings I2 are cross connected by a crosspiece 58 which is connected to the upwardly bowed crosspiece 51 and also to certain of the ribs by truss type reinforcing members 59.

The empennage l3 comprises a pair of elevators 60 and a rudder 6| and is mounted on the rear end of a narrow tailboom 62. The latter tapers from the front end of its rear end and is of circular cross section. The front end of the tailboom corresponds in diameter, and is riveted or otherwise fixedly secured, to the inwardly extending annular flange 32 on the rear end ring 22. The boom is hollow and has a metallic skin covering therearound. By reason of the fact that the rear end ring 22 is above the longitudinal center of the fuselage the tailboom and empennage are so disposed that the observer has full rearward vision from the fuselage. Because the tailboom is narrow and the fuselage is ellipsoidal in shape or contour and substantially transparent the observer of the airplane may see rearwards about or along all portions of the boom. Preferably the rear end ring 22 is positioned so that the bottom portion thereof is substantially aligned with the longitudinal center line of the fuselage. By so disposing the tailboom and having the rear lower portion of the fuselage curved sharply the observer has full or clear downward and rear vision from the rear end of the fuselage.

The landing gear [5 comprises a front wheel 63 and a pair of rearwardly disposed side wheels 64. The front wheel is mounted on the distal end of a pivoted strut65 and is adapted when not in use to be swung upwards into a well 66 in the front lower portion of the fuselage H. The side wheels 64 underlie the wings l2 and are mounted on the distal ends of a pair of pivoted struts 61. They are adapted when not in use to be swung upwards into pockets or wells (not shown) in the under portions of the wings. The front and side wheels are so carried by their respective struts that when they are in operative or ground engaging position they maintain the fuselage in parallel relation with the subjacent ground. By employing a tricycle type landing gear and having the empennage l3 supported by the narrow tailboom 62 there is no likelihood of the empennage coming in contact withthe ground during take-off of the airplane. Furthermore the observer has full rearward vision through the lower rear portion of the fuselage shell.

The herein described airplane is extremely.

claims .without departing fromthe spirit and a scope of the invention. v

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent isz 1. An airplane comprising a substantially e1- lipsoidal fuselage extending fore and aft and a da having the rear end thereof of pronouncedly dome-shaped contour, and a rigid extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom fixed to, and extending rearwardly from, the apex portion of said rear end of the fuselage.

-2. An airplane comprising a substantially e1- lipsoidal fuselage extending fore and aft and having the rear end thereof of pronouncedly dome-shaped contour, and a separately formed rigid extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom connected to, and extending rearwardly from, the apex portion of said rear end 'of the fuselage and tapering from the front end thereof to its rear end.

3. An airplane comprising substantially ellipsoidal fuselage extending fore and aft and having the rear end thereof pronouncedly domeshaped and provided at its apex portion with a circular end ring, and a separately formed extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom of circular cross section connected to, and extending rearwardly from, said end ring.

4. An airplane comprising a substantially ellipsoidal fuselage extending fore and aft and having a sharply curved or dome-shaped rearend, and rigid extremely thin empennage suprearwardly from, said rear end of the fuselage and disposed for the most part above the longitudinal center of the fuselage.

5. An airplane comprising an elongated fuselag'e having a sharply curved or dome shaped rear end with an end ring therein above the longitudinal center of the fusela e. and a separately formed rigid extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom of circular cross section connected to, and extending rearwardly from, said end ring.

6. An airplane comprising'a substantially ellipsoidal fuselage extending fore' andaft and having the rear end thereof ofpronouncedly dome-shaped contour and with the apex portion thereof above the longitudinal center of the fuselage and equipped with a circular ring, and

a separately formed tubular rigid extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom of circular cross section, connected to, and extending rearwardly from, said ring and disposed for the most part above said longitudinal center of the fuselage.

7. An airplane comprising an elongated fuselage having adome shaped -substantially transparent rear end, and an extremely thin tubular empennage supporting tailboom connected to,

and extending rearwardly from, the apex portion of said dome shaped rear end of the fuselage. 8. An airplane comprising a substantially transparent and ellipsoidal fuselage extending fore and aft and having the rear end thereof of sharply curved or pronouncedly dome-shaped contour, and an extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom'connected to, and extending rearwardly-from, the apex portion of-said rear end of the fuselage.

9. An airplane comprising a substantially transparent and ellipsoidal fuselage extending fore and aft and having the rear end thereof pronouncedly dome-shaped and with the apex portion thereof above the longitudinal center of the fuselage, and a rigid tubular extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom connected to,

and extending rearwardly from, the apex,por-- ible transparent plates extending across, andserving to close, the spaces in the framework and having the margins thereof connected slidably'to said framework so that the plates are free to expand or contract, and a rigid extremely thin empennage supporting tailboom flxed to, and extending rearwardlyfrom, the apex portion of said rear end of the fuselage.

v RICHARD W. 'PALMERV 

